Pat Dean (1-3, 5.48 ERA) and the Minnesota Twins (49-78) are in Toronto to meet Francisco Liriano (6-12, 5.21 ERA) and the Blue Jays (71-56) in a game that could be high scoring. This is the first of a three-game series at the Rogers Centre. The Twins go into this series looking to snap a seven-game losing streak. The game starts at 7:07 p.m. ET on Friday, Aug. 26 and will air on FSN and RSN.
In his most recent outing, Liriano pitched 6.0 innings, allowing one runs (one unearned), striking out seven and walking two in a 3-2 loss to the Indians. Josh Donaldson (.288, 99 Rs, 29 HRs, 82 RBIs, 6 SBs) went 1 for 5 yesterday with one run, one home run, and one RBI. The Twins were also unsuccessful the last time Dean pitched. He tossed 1.0 inning, allowing zero runs in an 8-3 loss to the Tigers. Brian Dozier (.269, 80 Rs, 30 HRs, 76 RBIs, 10 SBs) went 1 for 5 yesterday with one run.
Toronto is a heavy -190 favorite in this game and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at nine runs. The Blue Jays perform well as a favorite with a 57-37 record, but haven’t fared as well with the overall money line (-214). The Blue Jays have one of the most prolific offenses in the entire AL, averaging 4.8 runs per game. Transitioning to the Toronto defense and pitching staff, teams routinely struggle to score runs against the Blue Jays, who allow an AL-low 4.1 runs per game. The Blue Jays are fourth in the league in WHIP at 1.224.
Switching gears, the Twins come into this game with a weak win percentage of .381 when playing as the underdog (37-60) and an overall money line of -1,884. Over the past 10 matchups, the team is 2-8 SU and has played poorly as the underdog with a 1-6 record.
The Blue Jays are 3-1 against the Twins this season. This game will feature Dean (LHP) on the mound against the Blue Jays, who have an 18-18 record when they take on a left-handed starter. The left-handed Liriano will take the mound against the Twins, who have a 15-18 record against lefty starters this season.
Predictions: SU Winner – TOR, O/U – Over
Notes
After a weak showing last week where they got in seven hits, the Blue Jays need to step it up. The Twins have a record of 22-13 when opponents get seven hits or less.
When they are outhit, the Twins are 8-65. The Blue Jays have an 8-44 record when opponents outhit them.
Ranking 16th in home runs, Minnesota has hit 150 this season. Toronto ranks second with 181 home runs.
Ranking 13th, Toronto is in the top half of the league in hits, notching 8.47 per game. Minnesota ranks in the top 10 at ninth with 8.84.
Ranking 13th, Minnesota is in the top half of the league for its on-base plus slugging percentage (.745). Toronto ranks in the top 10 at ninth with an OPS of .762.
When the Twins allow at least one home run, they are 35-64. When the Blue Jays allow one or more homers, they have a 43-42 record.
